Machine for use in upholstering mattresses.



' No. 7|6,53I.

` Patented-Dac. 23', 1902.4 C. E. HADLEY. MACHINE-FUR use in uPHnLsTEHING MATTRESSES. l

(Application led Illy 10, 1902.)

(Hu Model.)

VEN 70H /N Cad,

m: wams Pains co. wovoumo., WASHINGTON. v c

un. 7|s,53|. Patented nec. 23, |902.

. c. |:.HAnLEY.

MACHINE FOR USE IN UPHOLSTERING MATTBESSES.

(Application led May 10, 1902.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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Patented Dec. 23, |902.

C. E. HADLEY.

(Appuwun mea my 1o, 1902.

MACHINE FUR USB1" UPI'IULSTERING MATTBESSES.

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4 Patontod Doc. 23, |902. C. g. HADLEY, MACHINE FDR USE INAUPHOLSTEB'ING IIATTBESSES.

(Application mea my 1o, 1oo2.\

5 Shaft-Sheet 4.

W/ TNESSE (Ilo Model.)`

N0. 7|6,53l. Patented Dec. 23, l9 2. C. E. HADLEY. Y v

MACHINE FOB USE IN UPHOLSTERING MATTRESSES.

(Applicazionmed my 1o, 1902.

ashun-sheet 5.*

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llllllllllllllll CIIARLESEI-IADLEY, OF CI-IICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO OLMSTED AND TUTTLE COMPANY, OF CI-IICOPEE, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IVIACl-llNE FOR USE IN UPHOLSTERING MATTRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 716,531, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed May l0, 1902. Serial No. 106,756. (No model.)

To (tI/Z whom it may concern..-

Beit known that I, CHARLES E. HADLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicopee, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Use in Upholstering Mattresses, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in machines for use in upholstering mattresses, cushions, and the like, and pertains more especially to a machine for securing the filling of mattresses and cushions firmly within the corner edge portions thereof, so that the inattress or cushion will preserve its outline or the proper angularity of its sides and ends with its upper and lower surfaces. In the manufacture of bed-mattresses it is necessary that the iilling along the corners formed around the upper and lower edges of the mattress be secure; otherwise the mattress after a little use would lose its outline, the filling gradually moving inward `from the corner edges of the mattress and said corners attening out. Y

The present invention comprises a machine .for lacing a thread in and out through the corner portions of the filling of the mattress for maintaining said tlling in proper position, the thread being carried by a needle traveling in diverging paths, so as to cause the thread to securely engage and hold' the lling.

The invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, and the said invention will be fully understood from the following specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the machine being illustrated in the operation of securing the filling along the edge corner portion of a mattress. Fig. 2 is a top View, partly broken away, of same. Fig. 3 is an end view taken from the right-hand end of Fig. l of same, a portion of the details being omitted. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of same on the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section of a portion of same on the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4r. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, on the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 5 of the lower portion of the machine. Fig. 7 is an enlarged top View of a portion of the operative mechanism of the machine and having to do more particularly with the directing of the needle in its proper paths. Fig. S is a sectional View of same on the dotted line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion ot the operative mechanism and illustrates more especially one set of the clamping devices for holding the needle at its end. Fig. l0 is a sectional view ot' same on the dotted line 10 l0 of Fig. 9. Fig. ll is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of the lower lefthand portion, looking at Fig. l', of the machine; and Fig. 12 is atop View, partly4 broken away and partly in section, of same.

In the drawings, 2O denotes the general frame of the machine; 2l, au ordinary support, upon which'the frame 20 may be rigidly mounted; 22, a mattress of usual character, shown in position to be operated upon bythe machine, and 23 a supporting-frame adapted to be moved intermittently below the machine proper and having an adjustable bed or table 24, adapted to receive the mattress 22 and support the same in an inclined position. The bed or table 24 at its front end is equipped with pivoted supporting-bars 25, which extend downward between guides 26, fastened to the frame 23, said bars 25 being slotted, as at 27, to receive the securingbolts 28 and permit of the vertical adjustment of the said bars 25 in a well-known manner for the purpose of varying the height and inclination of the table 24 in accordance with the thickness of the mattress 22, it being necessary that the corner edges of the mattress shall be maintained at a proper elevation with respect to the needle by which the lacing of the filling is to be accomplished. The outer end of the bed or table 24 has secured to it brackets 29, having arms 30, which extend downward upon the outer side of the frame 23 and receive bolts 3l, which serve as pivots for the outer end of the table 24 and extend through an elongated slot 32 in the bracket 33, which is secured in the guides 34, fastened to the frame 23. The bracket 33 is held in the guides 34 by means of a bolt 35, which passes through a slot in the bracket 33, as shown in Fig. l, said slot permitting of the vertical adjustment of the bracket 33, while the slot 32 in said bracket permits of the adjustmentof the pivoted bolts 31 longitudinally of the frame 23, in harmony with the adjustment which may be given to the bars 25. The means just above referred to for adjusting the bed or table 24 are of known character, and the present invention is not, therefore,

.limited to the special devices specified for enabling such adjustment. The frame 23 may be given its intermittent movement by hand or otherwise, the purpose of moving the frame 23 being simply to present fresh surfaces of the mattress 22 to the lacing needle from time to time, said needle operating with respect to certain predetermined points along the upper and lower surfaces of the mattress, which points may be about six inches apart.

At its front end the frame 23 is provided with the vertical frame 36, upon whose upper edge is formed the ratchet-bar 37, the teeth of which will be spaced in accordance with the distance between the tufts along the top of the mattress 22, these tufts, for illustration, being about six inches apart and representing the points at which the lacing-needle on one stroke is to be directed while performing its operation.

The general frame 20 of the machine eX- tends over the mattress-table 24 and at one side has an upwardly and inwardly extending section 38, (denoted by dotted lines in Fig. l and by fulllines in several of the other figures,) the said section 38 terminating in the vertical bearing-hub 39, as shown in Fig. 4, to receive the driving-shaft 40, carrying adjacent to its lower end the band-wheel 4l to receive the belt 42, whichl will be driven by any suitable means and the motion of which will be communicated through the band-wheel 4l to the driving-shaft 40 for actuating the mechanism of the machine. he belt 42 will, for convenience, pass over the idlers 43, supported from the section 38 of the main frame 20.

Upon the lower end of the driving-shaft is secured the crank-wheel 44, and below the crank-wheel 44 are the corresponding crankwheels 45 46, respectively, the latter being secured upon the upper end of a spindle 47, so as to communicate motion to said spindle. Between and to the crank-wheels 44 45 is secured the driving crank-rod 48, and between and to the crank-wheels 45 46 is secured the driving-rod 49, the pin securing the drivingrod 48 serving to connect the wheels 44 45 together, so that the motion communicated from the driving-shaft 40 to the wheel 44 may not only drive the rod 48, but also rotate the wheel 45, and the pin securing the drivingrod 49 serving to connect the wheels 45 and 46, so that the motion imparted to the wheel 45 may not only actuate the driving-rod 49, but also rotate the wheel 46 and spindle 47.

The driving-rods 48 49 are for imparting the proper horizontal reciprocating motion to the needle 50, as hereinafter described, and said driving-rods are so connected with the wheels 44, 45, and 46 that they will move in opposite directions or toward and from one another, as hereinafter explained.

The outer ends of the driving-rods 48 49 are connected with followers 5l, from which the needle-clamp mechanisms are suspended and which are adapted to have a sliding reciprocating motion in the frame 52, (shown in side elevation in Fig. l and in top plan in Fig. 2,) the said frame 52 being slotted, as at 53, to permit of the proper movement of the followers 5l and being substantially centrally pivotally mounted upon the spindle 47, said frame 52 having a hub 54, Fig. 5, which encompasses, but is not secured to, the spindle 47 below the lower crank-wheel 46. The right-hand portion, looking at Fig. 1, of the the frame 52 is on a lower elevation than the left-hand portion of said frame, and said portions are connected by the vertical member 55. The frame 52, while supporting and permitting of the properinovement of the needlecarrying mechanism, has an intermittent pivotal motion imparted to it, as hereinafter explained, in order that the needle may describe diverging paths, as denoted by the lines of the lacing, (indicated diagramm-atically at 56 in Fig. 2.)

The needle-clamp mechanisms suspended from the followers 51 each comprises a hanger 57, Figs. 9 and l0, and a pivoted clampingbar 58, carried thereby, said hanger 57 atits lower end having a tubular nozzle 59, enlarged at its receiving end and contracted at its outer end, the receiving end of said nozzle 59 being made flaring to conveniently receive and direct the needle and the contracted outer end 60 of the opening for the needle being of sufficient diameter to receive the pointed end of the needle, but not sufficient to allow the needle to pass through the same, the walls of said opening 60 forming a stop to prevent the needle from being moved too far through the hanger 57. The lower end of the hanger 57 is cut away at its middle portion to receive the clamping-jaw 6l, actuated by the bar 58, in order that at the proper time the said jaw 6l may reach and clamp the needle in position within the lower end of the hanger 57. It will be observed upon reference to Fig. l that the needle-clamping devices face each other, and in the usual operation of the machine said clamping devices under the action of the followers 5l approach and recede from each other, the clamping device at the left of Fig. l, for illustration, moving the needle 50 partly through the corner edge of the mattress and into a position in which the clamping device at the right of IOO Fig. l may take the same and draw it almost entirely through the corner edge of the mattressand then return said needle back through the mattress into a position in which the clamping device at the left of Fig. l may again take the needle and draw it to the left through the same, the said clamping devices thus operating alternately and delivering the needles back and forth to each other. The clamping devices receive their reciprocating movement from the driving-rods 48 and 49 through the followers 51, the latter being guided in the slots 53 of the frame 52. It is necessary that one clamping device shall release the needle 50 when the other clamping device is to take said needle and complete its stroke, said clamping devices thus alternately releasing the needle, and the mechanism for effecting the clamping and releasing of the needle comprises in addition to the clampingbars 58 the sliding bars 62 63, held in the grooves formed in the edge of the frame 52, the sliding rod 64, connected with the said bars 62 63 by arms 65, and the crank-arm 66, pivotally connected with the said arm 64, and the gear-wheel 67, Figs. 5 and 6, which isengaged and driven by the pinion-wheel 68, formed on the lower shaft or spindle 47. r1 he gear-wheel 67 is mounted upon an arm 69, in* tegral with the hub 54 of the frame 52, and will roll on the pinion 68 during the pivotal act-ion of the frame 52 with its hub 54. The sliding rod 64 is mounted in bearings 70, depending from the frame 52, and hence during the horizontal oscillatory motion of the frame 52 said frame, with the rod 64 and sliding bars 62 and 63, will move together, while in addition to this horizontal oscillatory motion the bars 62 and 63 may through the medium of the gear-wheel 67, crank-rod 66, and sliding rod 64 be given a limited reciprocating motion along the edge of the said frame 52.

The bars 62 63 have regular outer edges, with the exception of at points 7l, where said bars are recessed, and the presence of the recesses 7l enables the clamping-bars 58 to at the proper time release the needle 50. The upper ends of the clamping-bars 58 carry small rollers 72 to engage the outer vertical edges of the bars62 and 63, and during all of the time that the rollers `72 are out of the recesses 71 of the said bars the clampingjaws 61 will be held inward against the needle 50; but when the said rollers 72 reach the recesses 71 in said bars the pressure is taken off of the clampingbars 58 and the latter then hang freely and release their jaws 61 from the needle. The reciprocating motion of the sliding bars 62 63 is for the purpose, as far as the needle-clamping devices are concerned, of bringing the recesses 7l ot' said bars into proper relation for permitting the release of the needle 50 from one clamping device at the proper period when the other clamping device is ready to take the needle, it being desirable that the needle shall be fully released from one clamping device just prior to its being taken by the other clamping device. The movement of the bars 62 63 is properly timed, so that the one clamping device shall fully release the needle just before the other clamping device takes the same. The sliding bar 62 performs no function other than that of regulating the opening and closing of one clamping-jaw 61 for the needle; but the sliding bar 63 is utilized, in connection with the devices presently to be described, for performing a further function in regard to the path the needle shall travel, and this feature of the construction will now be described, the purpose being to lace the thread in and out in the manner diagrammatically indicated at 56 in Fig. 2.

The sliding bar 63 carries a pin 73, Fig. 7, disposed within a slot 74 of a bell-crank lever 75,which is pivotally secured to abracketarm 76, fastened by screws 77 to the frame 52, and this bellcrank lever 75 is utilized for effecting a transverse sliding movement on an oblique line of the yoke 78, which carries the spring-dog79, and is mounted in dovetail grooves upon the follower 51. The yoke 78 has at one end a depending pin 80 in position to engage or be engaged by the free arm of the bell-orank lever 75, the engagement of this pin and arm resulting in the sliding in one direction or the other of the yoke 78, and consequently in shifting the point of the dog 79, as hereinafter explained. The yoke 78 at its outer end is formed with the downwardly-extending lug 81,Figs. 7 and 8, adapted during the movement of t-he follower' 5l to travel either along the outer or the inner edge of the rib 82, formed along the right-hand portion (looking at Fig. 2) of the frame 52, the position of the yoke 78, governed by the bell-crank lever 75, determining whether during the movement of the follower 51 the said lug 8l shall travel along the outer or the inner edge of said rib 82. In Fig. 2 the follower 51, carrying the yoke 78, is shown as performing an inward motion with the lug 81 of the yoke 78, traveling along the outer edge of the rib 82, and in Fig. 7 the follower 81 and yoke 78 are illustrated as having almost reached the outer end of their movement, and it will be observed in Fig. 7 that the pin 8O of the yoke 78 has moved against the free arm of the bell-v crank lever 75 and that said yoke 78 has by reason of the inclination of said arm been caused to move transversely on an oblique.

line and has carried the lug 81 from in line with the outer edge of the rib 82 into line with the inner edge of said rib 82, so that upon the next stroke of the follower 51 toward the center of the machine the lug 8l may travel along the inner edge of said rib 82 instead of along the outer edge thereof, the purpose of thus shifting the yoke 78 being fully explained hereinafter.

The dog 79, carried by the yoke 78, coperates with a series of cams for securing the proper divergence of the lines of the lacingthread, and these cams are formed along the IOO IIO

edges of the plates 83, 84, and 85, which are connected together as a part of the frame 86, Fig. 2, which is fastened by means of small screws to a cast frame 87, extending from the upperend of the machine-frame 20,said frame 87 having a split hub passing upon the hub 39 of said frame 20. The frames 86 and 87 perform no motion; but the cams along the edges of the plates 83, 84, and 85, in connection with the pivoted dogs 79, carried by the yoke 78, with the means for reciprocating said dog and yoke with the follower` 51, perform the function of imparting to the frame 52 its horizontal oscillatory motion and of securing the divergence in the lines of lacing, (indicated at 56 in Fig. 2.)

An understanding of the duties performed by the cam-plates 83, 84, and 85, in connection with the yoke 78, dog 79, and frame 52, may best be arrived at bya consideration of the operation ofthe machine in so faras the construction has already been described, and this operation will now be pointed out. The lpower communicated to the driving shaft 40 by means of the belt 42 and band-wheel 41 is communicated to the crank-wheels 44, 45, and 46, lower spindle or shaft 47, and driving-rods 48 49, said rods effecting the reciprocating motion of the needle-clamping devices toward and from each other under the direction of the slotted frame 52, and said lower spindle or shaft 47, effecting through the gear-wheel 67, crankrod 66, and sliding rod 64, the sliding motion of the bars 62 63 in the edge of the frame 52 for clamping and releasing the needle 50, and said bar 63 serving through the pin 73, carried by it, to act upon the bell-crank lever 75 for the purpose of effecting the shifting on an oblique line of the yoke 78, carrying the dog 79. and lay the thread on the diverging lines indicated at 56 and in Fig. 2, and upon reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that said lines diverge from a point represented by a tuft 88 at the top of the mattress to certain equidistant points along the vertical edge portion of the mattress, these lines denoting the path to be traveled by the needle.- The needle 50 will be pointed at both ends and will have an eye at its shank end or left-hand end (looking at Fig. l) to receive the lacing thread or cord 89, the latter being fed in any convenient way. The shank end of the needle 50 will be inserted in the needle-clamp (numbered as a whole 150) at the left of Fig. 1 and the machine set in motion, the needle being driven through the corner portion of the mattress 22 toa sufficient extent to expose its entering end through the top of the mattress at the tuft 88, where the clamping device (numbered as a whole 151) at the right (looking at Fig. 1) will take the pointed end of the needle exposed through the top of the mattress and recede toward the outer end of the frame 52, drawing the needle andlacing-cord with it until the eye of the needle is almost exposed through the top of the mattress. Thereupon Itis desirable that the needle shall travelv the clamping devices 150 151 will again approach each other, the clamping device 151 moving the needle backward through the mattress until its pointed shank end is exposed, to be taken by the clamping device 150, whereupon the clamping devices will recede from each other as before, the clamping device 150 drawing the needle 50 entirely through the vertical edge portion of the mattress, after which, the machine continuing in motion, the clamping devices will again approach each other, and the clamping device 150 will drive the needle 50 into and through the corner portion of the mattress, as before, the needle 50 projecting through the top of the mattress at the tuft 88 to a sufficient extent for the same to be taken by the clamping device 151, whereupon the clamping devices will again recede from each other, and the clamping device 151 will take the needle and draw it through the corner portion of the mattress until the eye of the needle is almost exposed through the upper surface of the mattress at the tuft 88, as before, and thereupon the clamping devices will again approach each other, the clamping device 151 returning the needle through the corner portion of the mattress until its shank end can again be taken by the clamping device 150 and the latter again draw the needle entirely l through the corner portion of the mattress. This action of the clamping devices 150 151 alternately taking the needle and driving it through thc corner portion of the mattress will be continued as long as may be necessary, and, as above described, the clamping and releasing of the needle is controlled by the sliding bars 62 63, having the recesses 71 and moved from the gear-wheel 67 through the sliding rod 64. The delivery of the needle 50 through the corner portion of the mattress would always be on the same line were it not that the frame 52 during such delivery of the needle has imparted to it a horizontal intermittent turning motion around the lowerspindle 47, this motion of the frame 52 resulting in directing the clamping devices 150 151 on different paths, and the means for effecting the necessary intermittent movement of the frame 52 will now have their operation explained.

It may be assumed that the needle is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 and that the clamping device 151 is approaching the needle for the purpose of taking the same, the needle having traveled the path indicated by the dotted line 90 in Fig. 2.`

During the movement of the clamping device 150 to deliver the needle along the path denoted by the line 90 the lug 81 of the yoke 78 travels inward along the outer edge of the rib 82 of the frame 52, as denoted at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, Fig.`2 at its righthand side illustrating the devices presented at the left-hand side of Fig. 1. When the needle-clamp 151 takes the needle and moves outward with it, the clamping device 150 will lOO IIO

travel outward, and while doing so the lug 81 ofthe yoke 78 will move outward on the outer edge of the rib 82, until said lug passes beyond the outer end of said rib, and during this movement, the bell-crank lever having turned to its position shown in Fig. 7, the pin of the yoke 78 will move against the free arm of said lever, and thereby cause the yoke 78 to shift transversely of the frame 52 on an oblique line, this shifting of the yoke 78 on an oblique line operating to move the dog 79 slightly outward beyond the position it attains when the follower 51, carrying it, reaches its extreme outward position, and this slight further movement outward of the dog 79 serves to carry the point of the dog 79, Fig. 7, just beyond the outer pointed end of the cam-plate 83, said dog 79 thus leaving the first slot of the frame 86 and the point of the dog turning against the out-er inclined edge of the cam-plate 88. During the next inward stroke of clamping device 150 with the yoke 78, the point of the dog 79 having been deflected by its spring out of the path of the first slot of the frame 86, the said dog will ride against the outer inclined edge of the cam-plate 83 to the second slot 91 of the frame 86, Fig. 2, and thereby turn the main frame 52 into alinement with said second slot 91, and theinward motion of the said yoke 78 and follower 5l continuing the dog 79 will travel inward along said slot 91 with the lug 81 of said yoke 78 moving against the inner edge of the rib 82 of said frame 52, the clamping device 150 then traveling on the path represented by the dotted line 92 of Fig. 2, but not having the needle, which is at that time being pushed through the mattress hy the clamping device 151 and on the path of the said dotted line 92, this path being secured to the needle by the fact that the frame 52 was turned by the action of the dog 79, moving against the outer edge of the cam-plate 83 to reach the second slot 91 of the frame 8G. Then the clamping device 150 reaches the needle which has been projected on the path of the dotted line 92 by the clamping device 151, said clamping device 159 will take and move outward with the needle, the dog 79 at this time moving outward through the slot 91 of the frame 86 and the lug 81 of the yoke 78 traveling outward along the inner edge of the rib 82. When the dog 79 of the yoke 78 reaches on this movement the outer end of the second slot 91 of the frame 86, the bell-crank lever 75 will have been turned so that its free arm instead of being at the inner side of the pin 80 will be at the outer side thereof and Will turn inward against said pin 80, and thereby shift the yoke 78 so that the lug 81 thereof will be in line with the outer edge of the rib 82, thereby preventing the dog 79 from at that time leaving the second slot 91 and compelling the said dog on the next inward movement of the clamping device 150 to again travel inward through the slot 91; -but the shifting of the yoke 78 just prior to the return movement of the dog 79 inward through the slot 91 results in the lug 81 moving inward along the outer edge of the rib 82, whereby the needle instead of being again delivered to the mattress on the path of the dotted line 92 is delivered to the mattress on the path of the dotted line 94, the short lap or stitch at 93 having been formed and connecting the paths 92 94. The inward delivery of the needle on the path denoted by the line 94 is accomplished during the second or return inward movement of the dog 79 through the second slot 91, and when at the end of this second movement inward of the dog 79 through the slot 91 the needle is released from the clamping device 150 it will be taken by the clamping device 151 and drawn outward through the top of the mattress at the tuft 88, the clamping device 150, with the dog 79, receding outward, and at this time when the dog 79 reaches the outer end of the second slot 91, with the lug 81 of the yoke 78 traveling along the outer edge of the rib 82, the bell-crank lever 75 will be in the position shown in Fig. 7, and the pin 8O of the yoke 78 will move against the same and said yoke become shifted and carry the dog 79 slightly outward, so that its point will leave the second slot 91 and pass against the outer inclined edge of the cam plate 84, upon which on the next succeeding inward movement of the clamping device 150 the said dog will travel and turn the frame 52 to position in line with the third slot 95 of the frame 86.

The shifting of the yoke 78 to carry the point of the dog 79 from the slot 91 of the frame 86 also carries the lug 81 of said yoke from in line with the outer edge of the rib 82 to in line with theinner edge of said rib, and hence during the next succeeding movement of the yoke 78 with the clamping device 150 the said stud 8l will travel along the inner edge of the rib 82. The first inward movement of the dog 79 along the third slot 95 is made while the clamping device 151 is projecting the needle back through the mattress and to receive the needle from the said clamping device 151, the latter clamping device at that time delivering the needle on the path of the line 96 of Fig. 2. Upon the clampingdevice 150 reaching the end of its inward move` ment and clamping the then projecting end of the needle the said device will move outward and the dog 79 will move outward along the slot 95, upon arriving at the outer end ot' which the yoke 78 will, by the bell-crank 1ever 75, be suiiiciently shifted for the lug 81 of the yoke 78 to pass into line with the outer edge of the rib 82, whereupon the clamping device 150 will again move inward and deliver the needle along the path denoted by the dotted line 97 in Fig. 2, the needle forming the short lap or stitch 98, and then traveling the path denoted by the line 97 and issuing at the tuft 88, where it will be taken by the clamping device 151 and then drawn nearly through the corner portion of the mat- IOC IIO

tress, the clamping device 150 at the said time moving outward,and at this time the pin 80 of the yoke 78, riding against the arm of the bell-crank lever 75, and shifting said yoke suciently for the point of its dog 79 to leave the slot 95 and pass upon the outer inclined edge of the cam-plate 85, the lug 81 of the yoke 78 also passing inward from in line with the outer edge to in line with the inner edge of the rib 82. The next movement of the clamping devices 150151 toward each other will result in the dog 79 by riding against the outer inclined edge of the camplate 85 turning the frame 52 into alinement with the fourth slot 99 of the frame 86 and nallypassinginward alongsaid slot 99,while, due to the position thus given to the frame 52, the needle is by the clamping device 151 delivered through the corner portion of the mattress on the path of the dotted line 100 in Fig. 2, the clamping device 150 receiving the needle and drawing it outward through the vertical edge portion of the mattress, the dog 79 during this action passing outward along the aforesaid slot 99 of the frame 86. The thread having been laced on the paths denoted by the dotted line 90, 92, 93, 94, 96, 9S, 97, and 100, the lacing from the point represented by the one tuft 88 will be discontinued and the frame 52 will be returned to its initial position with respect to the frame 86, this being the position shown in Fig. 2, and the operation of the machine will be then repeated after the mattress 22 has been moved to bring the second tuft into position below the operative mechanism of the machine.

In Fig. 2 the dotted lacing-lines ou the mattress indicate that all of the work in line with two of the tufts 88 has been completed and that the frame 52 is in its initial position for performing the lacing from the point represented by a third tuft.

The means for restoring the frame 52 to its initial position (shown in Fig. 2) is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 1l, and 12. The ratchet-bar 37, along the upper edge of the frame 36, is engaged by a pawl 101, so that the machine proper may be held in proper relation to the frame 23, supporting the mattress, and after all of the lacing from the point represented by one tuft has been completed the clamping device 150, while concluding its outward stroke along the line of the slot 99 of the frame 86, will carry a dog 102, secured thereto against the arm 103, mounted upon the shaft 104 with the aforesaid pawl10l,with the result that at that time the pawl 101 will be elevated from the ratchet-bar 37 and allow the shifting of the frame 23 and mattress 22 either by manual or other power below the machine proper, thereby to bring the next section of the mattress requiring to be laced into position for that operation. Along the edge of the ratchet-bar 37 are formed the curved or cam surfaces 105 at equidistant points, and these surfaces upon the freeing of the pawl 101 from the ratchet-bar 37 and the shifting of the frame 23 are carried against the roller 106 on the outer end of a pivoted bar 107, which is connected with a bar 108, leading to a horizontal sliding bar 109, mounted upon the general frame 20 of the machine and carrying at its inner end the wedge-section 110, adapted to be drawn under the small roller 111, carried at the lower end of a spindle 112, which projects through a hub of the frame 52 and terminates directly below the lower crank-wheel 46. The shifting of the frame 23 and the carrying of one of the surfaces 105 against the roller 106 effects an outward movement of the bar 109 to wedge its inner end 110 below the roller 111 for the purpose of binding the upper end of the spindle 112 against the lower surface of the crankwheel 46, and the object of thus at this time binding the spindle 112 against the crankwheel 46 is to effect the automatic return of the frame 52 to its initial position, (shown in Fig. 2,) the frame 52 being at that time frictionally locked, by means of the spindle 112, to the crank-wheel 46, which is turning in a proper direction to carry the frame 52 back to its initial position. The frame 52 is thus returned to its initial position without stopping the machine and while the frame 23 is moved for the purpose of shifting the mattress below the machine. The wedge portion 110 of the bar 109 is indicated as to its outline by dotted lines in Fig. 12, in which it will be seen that the said portion 110 is on the arc of a circle and furnishes a tramway over which the roller 111 may pass during the movement of the frame 52. The operation of the arm 109 is to draw the inner or thicker portion of the wedge 110 below the roller 111, so as to create just sufficient friction between the upper en d of the spindle 112 and the lower surface of the crank-wheel 46 to enable theilatter to turn the frame 52 to its initial position, this movement of the frame 52 being instantly performed. After the elevated portion or surface 105 of the ratchet-bar 37 passes from below the roller 106 of the arm 107 the latter will lower and push the bar 109 inward to release the wedge portion 110 from its operative position below the roller 111, so that said roller and the spindle 112 may lower from the crank-wl1eel46. The distance between the teeth and the ratchet-bar 37 defines the distance the frame 23 and mattress 22 are to be shifted from time to time, and hence after the pawl 101 has been elevated from said bar the frame 23 will be shifted to just a sufficient extent to allow the pawl 101 to engage the next following tooth of said bar.

During the return of the frame 52 to its initial position (shown in Fig. 2) the rods 48 49 will not reciprocate the followers 51, and hence during the return motion of the frame 52 the dog 79 will not travel back and forth in the slot-s between the cam-plates 83, 84,

IOO

l'IO

and 85, but will return through the space between the outer ends of said cam-plates and the inner edge of the outer rim of the frame 86.

In the foregoing description I have explained the construction and operation of one embodiment of my invention, this embodiment employing the two sets of clamping devices for alternately receiving and deliveringr the needle through the mattress, and means foralternately releasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device. I desire it to be understood, however, that I do not limit the invention in every instance to the employment of the two sets of clamping devices numbered 4in the drawings 150 and ll, respectively,

since I am able to carry out some of the main purposes of the invention with the clamping devices 151 entirely omitted, the needle 50 then being carried by the device 150 at all times. This modified embodiment of my invention may be fully understood upon reference to Figs. l and 2 if it be considered that the clamping device ll is entirelyomitted and that the needle 50 has its eye at its outer end instead of at the end adjoining the clamp` ing device 150. lf the machine be thus arranged, the needle 5() would be propelled or carried on diverging paths by the clamping or holding device 150, the latter being driven and guided by the means slightly modified, hereinbefore described, for that purpose. Under such arrangement of the machine, the eye being at the outer end of the needle 50,the lacing-thread 89 will be carried through the top of the mattress at every forward thrust of said needle, and the operator upon the loop of the thread appearing through the top of the mattress will insert a tuft therein or knot the same, so as to hold the loop at the top of the mattress during the receding motion of the needle 50. A large portion of the machine hereinbefore described may thus be utilized without employing the two sets of clamping devices numbered 150 and 151, and hence I do not desire the invention limited to the employment of the two sets of clamping devices 150 and ll.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, and the two sets of clamping devices for alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, combined with means for reciprocating said devices toward and from each other for enabling one of said devices to deliver the needle through the mattress and to the other thereof, means for alternately releasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device, means for supporting the mattress and enabling the feeding of the corner edge portion thereof along a straight path with the end surface of the mattress at an angle to the path of the needle and byintermittent movements with the formation of the several groups of stitches or lacings, and means for causing said needle on its movements to lay the thread in the groups of lacings, each group comprising the several lines of thread on paths normally diverging from a given point to the end surface of the mattress; substantially as set forth.

2. The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the frame 52, the followers supported and directed thereby, the clamping devices carried by said followers for alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, and means for reciprocating said clamping devices toward and from each other for enabling one of said de-y vices to deliver the needle through the mattress and to the other thereof, combined with means for alternately releasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device, means for turning said frame and thereby varying the path on which the needle is to be delivered through the mattress, said frame being turned at a time when one clamping device holding the needle is about at the end of its outer stroke with one end of the needle still engaging the mattress, whereby the lines of path of the needle diverge from a given point to the outer end surface of the mattress, and means for supporting the mattress and enabling the feeding of the corner edge portion thereof along a straight path with the end surface of the mattress at an angle to the path of the needle; substantially as set forth.

The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the frame 52, the followers supported and directed thereby, the clamping devices carried by said followers for'alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, means for reciprocating said clamping devices toward and from each other for enabling one of said devices to deliver the needle through the mattress and to the other thereof, the sliding bars 62, 63, mounted in the edge of said frame and having the recesses, and means for sliding said bars to bring their recesses in line with the pivoted members of said clamping devices for eecting the release of the needle, said clamping devices each comprising the hanger having a needle-receiving aperture, and said pivoted member whose upper end is engaged by one of said bars and Whose lower end is adapted to secure the needle within said aperture except when the said bar moves its recess into position to release said member, combined with means for supporting the mattress and enabling the feeding of the corner edge portion thereof along a straight path with the vertical edge surface of the mattress at an angle to the path of the needle, and means for turning said frame 52 for causing the needle to be delivered on diverging paths through the mattress; substantially as set forth.

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4. The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the two sets of clamping devices for alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, and means for alternately releasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device, combined with means for actuating that clamping device holding the shank end of the needle to deliver the needle suiiiciently through the mattress for its pointed end to become exposed and taken by the other or second clamping device, means for actuating the said second clamping -device then holding the pointed end of the needle to draw the needle partly through the mattress and leaving its shank end within the mattress and then returning the needle back through the mattress on a path diverging from its former path and causing the shank end of the needle to become exposed to be taken by the first clamping device, means for actuating the first clamping device to then entirely withdraw the needle from the mattress and again deliver the same on a different path through the mattress as before for` the second clamping device to take the point thereof, and means for then causing the said second clamping device to withdraw the needle as before partly through the mattress and then return the same on a further diverging path to the first clamping device; substantially as set forth.

5. The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the frame 52, the followers supported and directed thereby, the clamping devices carried by said followers for alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, and means for reciprocating said clamping devices toward and from each other for enabling one of said devices to deliver the needle through the mattress and to the other thereof,combined with means for alternately releasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device, the slotted fr ame 86 having the cam-plate whose outer inclined edge leads from one slot to the other thereof, the dog carried by one of said followers and arranged to travel in the slots of said frame 86 and thereby determine the position of said frame 52 and the path of said needle, and means for deflecting said dog from one of said slots so that on its next inward stroke it will move against the said inclined edge of said cam-plate and thereby turn the said frame 52 and then enter the adjoining slot of said frame S6; substantially as set forth.

6. The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the frame 52, the followers supported and directed thereby, the clamping devices carried by said followers for alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, and means for reciprocating said clamping devices toward and from each other for enabling one of said devices to deliver the needle through the mattress and to the other thereof, combined with means for alternately releasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device, lhe slotted frame 86 having the cam-plate whose outer inclined edge leads from one slot to the other thereof, the obliquely-arranged yoke carried in guides by one of said followers, the pivoted springdog mounted on said yoke and arranged to travel in the slots of said frame 86 and thereby determine the position of said frame 52 and the path of said needle, and means for shifting said yoke and thereby carrying said dog outward beyond one of said slots so that it may turn and on its next inward stroke it will move against the said inclined edge of said cam -plate and thereby turn the said frame 52 and then enter the adjoining slot of said frame 86; substantially as set forth.

7. The machine comprising the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the frame 5 2, the followers supported and directed thereby, the clamping devices carried by said followers for alternately receiving and delivering said needle through the mattress, and means for reciprocating said clamping devices toward and from each other for enabling one of said devices to deliver the needle through the mattress and to the other thereof, combined with means for alternately reieasing the needle at one clamping device and securing it in the other clamping device, the slotted frame 86 having the cam-plate whose outer inclined edge leads v from one slot to the other thereof, the rib along one edge of said frame 52, the obliquelyarranged yoke carried in guides by one of said followers and having the lug adapted in accordance with the position of said yoke to travel along either the inner or the outer edge of said rib, the dog mounted on said yoke and arranged to travel in the slots of said frame S6 and thereby determine the position of said frame 52 and the path of said needle, means for shifting said yoke at the outer end of one stroke of its follower to carry said dog outward beyond one of said slotsso that it may on its next inward stroke move against the said inclined edge of said cam-plate and thereby turn said frame 52 and then enter the adjoining slot of said fralne 86, and means for shifting said yoke in a reverse direction at the outer end of another stroke of its follower so that at such time said dog may not leave its guiding-slot and the said lug of said yoke may move inward on the opposite side of said rib; substantially as set forth.

8. The machine comprising the pivotallymounted frame 52, the followers 5l supported and guided thereby, and the clamping devices 150, 151, suspended from said followers for alternately taking and delivering the needle, combined with the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the driving-shaft 40 carrying the crank-wheel IOS) IOS

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44, the shaft 47 carrying the crank-wheel 46, the crank-wheel 45 intermediate said crankwheels 44, 46, the driving-rods 4S, 49 respectively at their outer ends connected with said followers and at their inner ends respectively connected with the said wheels 44, 45, and 45, 46, the bars 62, 63, mounted in the edge of said frame 52 and having the recesses 7l, the sliding rod 64 suspended from said frame 52 and connected with said bars 62, 63, the gear-wheels 67 carried by said frame 52, the pinion 68 on the said shaft 47 and in mesh with said gear-wheel, the drivin g-rod connecting said gear-wheel 67 and rod 64, and means for moving said frame 52 to vary the path of the needle, said bars 62, 63, engaging the actuating members of the said clamping devices to cause the latter to bind against the needle except when the said recesses 71 reach said members, when the needle is released; substantially as set forth.

9. The machine comprising the pivotallymounted frame 52, the followers 51 supported and guided thereby, and the clamping devices 150, 151, suspended from said followers for alternately taking and delivering the needle, combined with the needle pointed at both ends and having the eye to take the thread, the driving-shaft carrying the crank-wheel 44, the shaft 47 carrying the crank-wheel 46, the crank-Wheel intermediate said crankwheels 44, 46, the driving-rods 48, 49 respectively at their outer ends connected with said followers and at their inner ends respectively connected with the said Wheels 44, 45, and 45, 46, the bars 62, 63 mounted in the edge of said frame 52 and having the recesses 7l, the sliding rod 64 suspended from said frame 52 and connected with said bars 62, 63, the gearwheel 67 carried by said frame 52, the pinion 68 on the said shaft 47 and in mesh with said gear-wheel, the yoke 78 having the lug 81 and spring-dog 79, the rib 82 on said frame 52 for receiving and guiding said lug at either its outer or inner edge, the bell-crank lever 75 for determining the position of said yoke, means for operating said lever 75 from said bar 63, the driving-rod connecting said gearwheel 67 and rod 64, and the frame 86 aiording the slots and cam edges for said dog 79 and enabling said dog to vary the position of said frame 52, the said bars 62, 63, engaging the actuating members of the said clamping devices to cause the latter to bind against the needle except when the said recesses 71 reach said members, when the needle is released; substantially as set forth.

10. The machine comprising the needle having the eye to take the thread, and a device for holding said needle, combined with the pivotally-mounted frame supporting said device, a frame for controlling the position of said pivoted frame for varying the path of the needle, means for guiding said device along the outlines aorded by said controlling-frame, means fordriving the needle, said needle being compelled under the direction of said controlling-frame to travel on diverging paths through the corner edge portion of the mattress, and means for supporting the mattress and presenting the corner edge por- Witnesses:

OHAs. C. GILL, ARTHUR MARION. 

